Colombia RPCV Franz M. Schneider defends Kerry's honor



Colombia RPCV Franz M. Schneider defends Kerry's honor

Defending Kerry’s honor

Wednesday, September 29, 2004

Dear Editor,

Is Mr. Jones seriously suggesting that John Kerry did not receive an honorable discharge and is trying to hide the truth?

The truth is that according to public documents (and isn’t it wonderful how the documents rather than the service become the issue?) John Kerry did serve with honor in Vietnam. The truth is that George Bush served in the Texas Air National Guard. It’s also pretty clear, no matter what documents you do or don’t find, that he was given special treatment. That’s not a crime, but let’s not pretend it didn’t happen. The truth is that neither John Edwards nor Dick Cheney served in the military, through Edwards never got any deferments because there wasn’t a draft then.

For full disclosure, I got pretty much the same deferments that Dick Cheney got, at about the same time. My wife and I did two years in the Peace Corps in Colombia.

So I didn’t serve in the military either, but then I’m not impugning the honor, character and integrity of those who did - honorably. Suggesting that Kerry has a dirty secret to hide seems less than honorable.

Franz M. Schneider, Hollister

When this story was posted in October 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Director Gaddi Vasquez: The PCOL Interview PCOL sits down for an extended interview with Peace Corps Director Gaddi Vasquez. Read the entire interview from start to finish and we promise you will learn something about the Peace Corps you didn't know before. Plus the debate continues over Safety and Security.

Schwarzenegger praises PC at Convention Governor Schwarzenegger praised the Peace Corps at the Republican National Convention: "We're the America that sends out Peace Corps volunteers to teach village children." Schwarzenegger has previously acknowledged his debt to his father-in-law, Peace Corps Founding Director Sargent Shriver, for teaching him "the joy of public service" and Arnold is encouraging volunteerism by creating California Service Corps and tapping his wife, Maria Shriver, to lead it. Leave your comments and who can come up with the best Current Events Funny?

Peace Corps: One of the Best Faces of America Teresa Heinz Kerry celebrates the Peace Corps Volunteer as one of the best faces America has ever projected in a speech to the Democratic Convention. The National Review disagreed and said that Heinz's celebration of the PCV was "truly offensive." What's your opinion and can you come up with a Political Funny?

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